Friday, March 7, 2014

The Ransom - PreRelease Party Final Week!

Last week's winner, chosen by Random.org, is Joleen Gaumann! Congratulations Joleen !!
Don't despair, I'm giving away one more copy next Friday, so don't forget to comment on today's post.

For those of you who haven't read my Legacy of
the King's Pirates series (What are you waiting for?) you
won't be lost. Though some characters from the series are mentioned in
this story, it is really a stand-alone.
I received the following endorsement from Cindy Vallar, who is a pirate expert and an author and speaker who teaches classes on pirates. Check out her website Pirates and Privateers, if you have time.

The Ransom is
a deftly spun tale of masquerade, redemption, and forgiveness. Tyndall
recreates the pirate haven with such realism that it’s as if it rises from its
watery grave to show readers why it was once deemed “the Sodom of the New
World.” It’s been awhile since her last pirate tale, and this voyage far
surpasses the adventure, romance, and spiritual journeys in the previous titles
of this series. She paints her characters with such vividness and detail that
they come to life, pulling readers into the midst of their lives so we walk
beside them through all the dark intrigue and dazzling gaiety. And when the
inevitable occurs, we experience their terror, suffering, and salvation. The Ransom is a journey not soon
forgotten and one we never want to end.

(By the way, The Ransom is now Available in both e-book and paperback! Click on the cover to the right to purchase!)

Answers to last week's Guess what the character will say contest!

Juliana says:

“By your own
admission, sir, you are a pirate. Why
should I trust you?”

Alex Responds!

A. "Because, milady, I have already saved your life once tonight." B. “You shouldn’t.” He shrugged.
“But either way, I intend to escort you home." C. He grinned. "I neither ask for your trust, nor expect it." D. "Because appearances can be deceiving."

Alex says:

“That kindness, milady,
as foreign as it may seem for pirates, I owe to you.” He rested his hand on the
hilt of the cutlass hanging at his side. “I fear you bring out what little good
remains in my dark soul.” His tone lacked its usual taunt.

Juliana responds:

A. "Or is that good just a pretense for attaining my affections?"

B. "A soul that is dark harbors no good." She hurried on her way.

C. "Then will you repent of all your crimes here and now, Mr. Pirate?"

D. “Have a care, Mr.
Pirate, I may reform you yet.” She dared to smile.

So many of you got it right!!! I'm going to have to try harder next time. :-)
Thanks to all who entered. I had fun reading your comments!

The Earthquake that Sunk A City!

In 1692 an earthquake struck the city of Port Royal Jamaica, a city that had been deemed the Wickedest City in the World. With a population at around 3500, the city was larger than New York City at the time. Cramped, unhealthy, and wanton, the port town was settled for reasons purely of lust and greed and was filled with pirates, privateers, sailors, and other greedy sorts. There were a few honorable souls among the inhabitants,but they were in the minority. Two such honorable men were the Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Heath of Christchurch and Sir Hans Sloane.
On the morning of June 7th, Dr. Sloane and his son set out for the mainland by canoe to visit patients in Spanish Town. Dr. Heath attended his church as he did every morning trying to set an example for "a most ungodly, debauched people" Dr. Heath was on his way for lunch at the home of Captain Ruden, but he stopped at an Inn to have a glass of wormwood wine with a merchant friend
At approximately 11:40 am the earth began to move beneath him. His friend told him it was only an earthquake and would be over soon, but when Dr. Heath ran into the street, he felt two more larger jolts, and by the time he arrived at Captain Ruden's house, it had vanished into the sea.
Meanwhile out in the harbor Dr. Sloane and his sons reported:

We were near being overwhelmed by a swift rolling sea, six feet above the surface, without any wind, but it pleased God to save us, being forced back to Linguanea, where I found all houses even with the ground, not a place to put one's head in, but in Negro houses. The terrible earthquake shook down and drowned nine-tenths of the town of Port Royal in two minutes time, and by the wharfside in less than one. Very few escaped there. I lost all my people and goods, my wife and two men, Mrs. B and her daughter. One white maid escaped who gave me an account that her mistress was in her closet, two pair of stairs high, and she was sent into the garret, where Mrs. B and her daughter were, when she felt the earth quake and bid her take up her child and run down, but, turning about, met the water at the top of the garret stairs, for the house sunk right down and is now under thirty feet of water

Two-thirds of the town, sank into the sea immediately after
the main shock.
According to Robert Renny in his 'An History of Jamaica' (1807): "All the
wharves sunk at once, and in the space of two minutes, nine-tenths of the city
were covered with water, which was raised to such a height, that it entered the
uppermost rooms of the few houses which were left standing. The tops of the
highest houses, were visible in the water, and surrounded by the masts of
vessels, which had been sunk along with them."

It is believed that nearly 2000 people lost their lives in the actual quake and several hundred more in the disease and looting and starvation afterward.

Incredible, huh?

Please leave a comment with your email address to enter to win The Ransom! I will draw the final winner next Friday March 14th. (Print copy in US only) Thanks so much for joining me in The Ransom's Pre-release Party!!! I hope you've had fun!

It sounds like Port Royal's earthquake was like the devastation the tsunami brought to Japan a few years ago. It's unimaginable how all of this damage could be done within just a few minutes. Congrats on the great review by Cindy Vallar. Hearing her complimentary words (especially with her pirate expertise) makes me look forward to reading this eagerly anticipated book. Thanks for the chance to win it.

Fri March 7th,"Morning, MaryLu."Congratulations to Joleen G !!!I only got Alex's response correct .... oh well, one out of two !What an incredible accounting of Port Royal, Jamaica. It makes me think of verses like -- "God's Spirit will not strive with man forever" ; and, "God is not mocked". His Will, His Way -- will always be carried out, to serve His purpose ... when there is something for mankind to learn.Thanks so much for sharing this with us, MaryLu.Take care, and, God Bless, In Him, Brenda

Oh, that is so sad and haunting! I wonder if the preacher was able to win any souls for the Lord while he was there. First-hand accounts in letters and journals are always fascinating to read. So, do these characters experience the earthquake personally or do they arrive after it has already happened?

I can't imagine what that 2 minutes of earthquake terror must have been like. I only felt a small earthquake once and that was enough for me! Thanks for the giveaway and pre-release party!garfsgirl [at] hotmail [dot] com

WHOO HOO! I'm glad I guessed B and D! :D I was hoping that's what they would say! ;) That picture of the city underwater is booth cool and eerie! Those poor people I would have hated to be there!!! This party has been a lot of fun thank you MaryLu!

Congrats to Joleen and yay for the final week of this pre-release party!Incredible information about that earthquake, MaryLu, thanks for the great photos :)I'm so glad I got the answers correct from last week, this has been fun!!Looking forward to reading The Ransom and thank you for these giveaways :)Have a super blessed weekend, MaryLu, and best wishes to all who enter!Karawman4jcATaolDOTcom

Very interesting MaryLu. And, how horrible. But this place was too evil like Sodom and Gamoro in the Bible. But wondered why the negro houses were saved. I would sure love to win your book, Ransom. Don't know how I missed the other posts. I love learning of new history. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

I must say, I read all the details of the earthquake with a great deal of interest. It is so difficult to believe that the town could just disappear! As well, I am quite fascinated by the different shoreline that is evident now. One can't help but wonder if there have been further earthquakes in that area. Would love to have a print copy of this book!bettimace at gmail dot com

Whoohoo, I got both answers right! It's amazing how different the shoreline is throughout all the years, and how quickly it was recorded to have changed during the earthquake...scary! Thanks for this giveaway opportunity :).Calliegenuinegagirl(at)gmail(dot)com

WOW. The changes in the shoreline and the accounts of how fast and devastating everything was send chills up my spine. Our God's mercies are abundant and His love is long suffering, but He will not always strive with man. How many opportunities must the Lord had given these people, sending them men of faith to preach His Word yet they would not here. Like Sodom and Gomorrah, what happened here is a testament to us all of how much our Lord hates sin and His judgement on those who have hardened their hearts and closed their ears. Behold the beauty and the terror of the love of God!

Oh my goodness! I am left speechless. I feel so sorrowful for the lives that were lost in this extremely unexpected disaster! The fact that nine tenths of the city was practically swallowed up by the sea is incomprehensible! And what's even harder to believe is that the majority of it happened in the space of two minutes. It would have been awful to have experienced that. It's unimaginable.

I can't imagine what it would have been like to live in a city deemed the wickedest in the world. Being around such an unscrupulous bunch would be terrifying for anyone. But GOD loved every one of those pirates and murderers and villains so much. And he still does love the ones of today. His heart just aches for the lost, wandering and hurting people of this world. He just yearns for them to look to him, and find comfort and peace in his warm and loving embrace.

Although I am glad that a few people did escape from the tragedy that befell their city.

I've always loved your pirate books, and I'm simply fascinated with the Port Royal history you gave above. I was in Jamaica for a week back in 2001; it is a place special to me even with its past wickedness (and current residents who are still lost). I cannot wait to read this book! Thanks for continuing to write. :) ConnieTroyer77[at]gmail (dot)com.